Armed robbers hide in post office

Armed robbers broke into a flat above a post office in Greater Manchester to lay in wait for staff to open up.

The gang stole a "large" amount of cash is what police say was a "well-planned" raid on the branch at Councillor Lane in Cheadle Hulme.

A 54-year-old worker was confronted by two men, who were armed with crowbars, when she arrived for work on Tuesday.

Police said the men were seen driving off in a Golf GTi with two other accomplices.

A short time later a similar car parked up on Dorset Road and four or five men, dressed all in black, were seen to run off down an alleyway towards Handley Close and Appleby Close.

'Extremely shaken'

The woman was not injured but left extremely shaken, police said.

Det Con Marcus Ellaby, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "The victim was going about her daily job when she was confronted by two armed men.

"Although she wasn't injured she is understandably extremely upset.

"This was clearly a well-planned robbery and at this stage is not clear how many people have been involved.

"Two men were involved in the robbery inside the Post Office, however a number of men fled the scene."